The 12 Most Over-the-Top Transportation Designs of 2017

Apartments along New York’s Park Avenue, mansions in Beverly Hills, and beachfront property in Miami—these are the areas where sky-high prices are not only warranted but expected, due in large part to their exclusivity and demand. But paying $40,000 for a bicycle? That’s an unbelievably enormous amount, especially when considering the fact that the average bike in America costs between $300 and $500. Yet, these types of over-the-top transportation designs seemed to sprout up every few months in 2017. From a private jet with a moonroof to a Rolls Royce superyacht, AD rounds up the 12 transportation designs that will hold your attention, both for their beauty as well as their price tag. Who knows: Maybe you’ll be the next Mega Millions lottery winner, and this list will instantly become a lot more relevant.

In the world of luxe, there are quotidian superyachts, and then there are Porsche-designed superyachts. Earlier this fall, Porsche unveiled a stunning $16 million vessel. The 115-foot superyacht will not only feature a hybrid engine but also will be incredibly rare, as there will be only seven produced in the world. The vessel will be built by Dynamiq, whose CEO referred to it as “the modern gentlemen’s superyacht.”

At the 2017 Monterey Car Week in California, Mercedes-Maybach, one of the most luxurious brands on the planet, unveiled the Vision Mercedes-Maybach 6 Cabriolet. The all-electric car is a head-turner, as it’s 20 feet long (most sedans are roughly 15 feet long) with a body that is more akin to a yacht than a traditional car. The concept luxury auto has 750 horsepower (more than the 2017 Audi R8 and the 2017 Lamborghini Huracán Spyder) and can go more than 200 miles on a single charge.

Embraer’s newest $80 million private jet concept was inspired by Art Deco architecture. Dubbed the Manhattan, the aircraft welcomes its passengers with all of the deep mahogany wood panels, brass and gold trim, and jewel hues that marked the Art Deco period of the 1920s and ’30s. “Why did people dress up to get on a Pan Am Clipper in the late 1930s? It was elegant, a superior way of living, and gave people something to aspire to. That’s what we are hoping to do with this private jet,” says Jay Beaver, Embraer’s VP of Interior Design.

In a leap forward for zero-emissions transportation, a team of French scientists, engineers, and designers are celebrating the successful launch of Energy Observer. The 100-foot-long boat runs on energy derived from solar panels, wind turbines, and an advanced hydrogen fuel-cell system.

Lamborghini recently partnered with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology to design the Terzo Millennio, a concept car that’s being dubbed one of the world’s most sustainable supercars. The all-electric vehicle hides its motor in each of the four wheel wells, which allow for more aerodynamic-boosting air channels (since the design doesn’t need to fit around a bulky engine). When the car eventually hits the road (the engineers are shooting for 2030), be sure the price tag will be significant.

The Airbus ACJ319neo Infinito jet allows passengers to have an unimpeded view of the sky above—all while flying tens of thousands of feet in the air. The way the technology works is that passengers won’t actually be looking through a window toward the sky. Rather, the ceiling will be composed of a high-definition screen that will run the length of the cabin. Above the ceiling, on the plane’s exterior, there will be several high-tech cameras. These machines will then live-stream the aerial view back down to the screen in real-time.

The Hyperloop Hotel lets you zip between cities without leaving your hotel room. Much of travel is burdensome due to the long lines, hours spent packing, and moments sitting idly at gates or terminals. That’s why the Hyperloop Hotel wants its clients to actually travel in their hotel room—and at incredibly speeds, to boot. The luxurious hotel concept would connect 13 major cities in America, while sharply reducing the cost and hassle of modern travel.

The all-new 2018 Rolls-Royce Phantom is a sight to be seen, not just because it’s the latest in a long line of lauded vehicles (which have driven kings, queens, and heads of state in all corners of the globe since the model’s debut in 1925) but because this model has something no other Rolls-Royce interior features: a bespoke work of art that is prominently displayed on the front dashboard (also known as the Gallery). New Phantom customers can select from one of several prominent artists to beautifully design their Gallery. Rolls-Royce will also work with potential customers in commissioning the most high-profile artists in the world (at a price) to design the front console.

This year Bugatti created the PG Bugatti Bike, a structure made from 95 percent high-strength carbon fiber that weighs less than 11 pounds, making it one of the world’s lightest bicycles. The luxury bike comes at a steep cost, as one bicycle costs nearly $40,000. If you’re interested, you’d better move quickly, as there will be only 667 of them created.

Renault and Philips predict a future where your car and home are literally connected through Symbioz, a concept car that was unveiled at the 2017 Frankfurt Auto Show. The all-electric, autonomous car will seamlessly integrate with a smart home thanks to a shared power grid. When parked on the rotatable car lift (which doubles as a charging platform), its batteries can be used to power connected lighting and electronics at times of peak use. A power outage will automatically direct power from the car. An onboard operating system can also control lighting systems once you’re in range, all without the push of a button. If this is the future, who doesn’t want to be living in it?

Rolls-Royce teamed up with designer Claydon Reeves to create the Aeroboat S6 concept superyacht. With their expertise, the team was able to design a custom feature that can extend the swim platform, rising to meet with the passerelle or lower below the waves for easy access to the water. Below deck, there is a day cabin forward with large windows that can transform into a master suite should the owner wish to stay aboard overnight. There is also a shower room, day head, and galley.

Superyacht concepts are, by definition, meant to be jaw-dropping. But The Flying Diamond takes that notion to a whole new level. Created by George Lucian, a designer currently based in Monaco, the vessel, which would measure 460 feet long, would have the capability to tether an airship up to 330 feet long. The superyacht would include several lavish amenities such as a helicopter landing pad, a jacuzzi, a dining room, and a cocktail lounge. The yacht would be able to have enough space for 12 guests and 40 crew members.